[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6095795,"mediaKeyId","2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1","parentId",2836884,"title","House passes HB 13 to create Texas Interoperability Council and $500 million grant account for emergency communications","audioSeconds",2407,"startMs",4893000,"endMs",7300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1&start=4893&end=7300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1/thumbnail_4893000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095795/Texas/House-passes-HB-13-to-create-Texas-Interoperability-Council-and-500-million-grant-account-for-emergency-communications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095795-d578d076d4fd98a11c7af120b92b4876/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783759&Signature=nCpuHP1Wda1k9p6ZNFnDGuSDlehRi2VXydEarB8YWQ8RQPJnHTEBwx~hrO1p5HJGjfob1g46trL7SokKXVqfGI7FcDmdszUbWl-UK9rhigSDm6Ihosbg-EtiOwTNeNNN3m2mDrAgTQfx~B5YmaDwZu2eObPII4Afxw7PlQ48T6m7y6jxokw0VfcOLVpqCZT0XdWVUFMua5NoOSJ-GEvso~aFIOSVbwaG85toq44AY57n~bBN6e2C9~1adZGMDu47NX9c2Julnx4DKmcx18warEUWNngSI3NPRHF-DQGGlro2jTM2bN7cbNCLbLz4cTmwV-dGm4EHVpYgFXLSSOwYtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Texas House passed House Bill 13, a bill to create a Texas Interoperability Council charged with developing and coordinating a statewide plan for interoperable emergency communications and administering grants to help local governments acquire equipment and training.

Representative King, the bill’s sponsor, told the House the measure was born from after‑action lessons following a 700,000‑acre wildland fire in his district; he said the core problem identified in post‑fire testimony was lack of communications among responding agencies. HB 13 creates the council and a grant program to help local governments buy equipment and ensures recipients provide training to use the equipment.

During floor debate members raised funding, transparency, and oversight concerns. Representative Tidwell questioned funding levels; Representative King said the bill’s authorizers were seeking roughly $500,000,000 in total (described in the discussion as $250,000,000 each year of the biennium) and said the grant account would be held at the comptroller’s office. Representative Tidwell and others asked whether council meetings and grant decisions would be subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act; Representative King and other supporters objected to making all council work public, citing critical‑infrastructure sensitivity and encryption for certain data.

Representative Tenderholt offered several amendments. One would have required council meetings to be conducted in public under Government Code chapters 551 and 2001 (Open Meetings Act and administrative procedures); that amendment failed on a record vote (transcript: 53 ayes, 91 nays). Tenderholt’s later amendment proposing a 10‑year termination (a sunset) for the program also failed on a record vote (46 ayes, 101 nays). A proposed amendment by Representative Kane was ruled not germane by the presiding officer and not considered on the merits.

Supporters, including Representative Lauderback and Representative King, argued HB 13 begins a long‑term buildout to remedy the state’s patchwork of radio systems and interoperability gaps; opponents pressed for transparency and fiscal controls given the large sum discussed on the floor.

The clerk recorded a roll call and the House passed HB 13 to engrossment; the transcript records the final tally as 29 ayes and 18 nays.

Clarifying details reported on the floor include the approximate funding figure ($500 million total, described as $250 million per year of the biennium) and that the grant account would be held at the comptroller’s office. The author and opponents discussed the applicability of open meetings law to council deliberations and protection of critical‑infrastructure information; the House rejected the recorded amendments that would have changed those provisions.

Votes at a glance
- Amendment (Tenderholt) to make council meetings subject to Open Meetings Act: recorded vote 53 ayes, 91 nays; amendment failed.
- Amendment (Tenderholt) to add a 10‑year sunset: recorded vote 46 ayes, 101 nays; amendment failed.
- Kane amendment ruled not germane by point of order.
- Final passage: recorded in transcript as 29 ayes and 18 nays; HB 13 passed to engrossment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","89th Legislative Session 4/01/25","oneSentenceSummary","The House passed HB 13 to create a Texas Interoperability Council and a grant program to help local governments improve emergency communications.","taxTitle","Legislative, Texas","taxId",16091,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095798,"House advances HJR 4 to bar securities-transaction taxes after floor debate and failed amendments",1771,2889000,4660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1&start=2889&end=4660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1/thumbnail_2889000.jpg","/articles/6095798/Texas/House-advances-HJR-4-to-bar-securities-transaction-taxes-after-floor-debate-and-failed-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095798-33f5a227be6990e0193c544f18f36c16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783759&Signature=j37nsQNN0rOK4c9REx3tKbzcQNZgHmg3Q2lHDiXqzdn9ZsQXqkUpz5tUm0jzJtGhouSTEKMTv4PeJ0vbxc3z57tG5dw-C4xP82PcVXFj4UOquojcsCTPpNNyFqWMXeCT-eXMzYZyCGXWJSekWrQ9-cBddrvWMxNmkm2js8DIcpQyXLPnVpcOWj2XqslYm4ce-cOcRYJ~z-N~xUGO9l6NeodnBCsK~tBa25J4~lyRge50Rog-OgMK-MbpYCYc7Titd84j2Zb23NxQHbbEpTVXApDDWqLHHhUOhh9WRwkPe03O41QeFqO6LTTOzMKsiaii8RE27rh36CLng0YoY4mCOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Joint Resolution 4, proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit the Legislature from imposing taxes on securities transactions or imposing an occupation tax on registered securities market operators, was debated on the House floor and adopted by the chamber.

The measure’s author, Representative Meyer, told members HJR 4 would bar what supporters called potential ‘‘financial transaction’’ taxes and would be placed on the November 4, 2025, ballot for voter approval. Representative Meyer moved passage after explaining the resolution.

Representative Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (identified in the debate as Rodriguez Ramos) offered a sequence of amendments aimed at carving out exceptions or limiting the ban. Her first amendment would have exempted the ban for transactions over $10,000,000 so future lawmakers could tax very large trades; she described that carve-out as protecting the option to target ultra‑large speculative transactions while shielding ordinary investors. That amendment was rejected in a record vote. A second amendment focusing on high‑frequency trading and a later amendment proposing a sunset/renewal in 2034 likewise failed in recorded roll calls.

Representative Rodriguez Ramos argued repeatedly that the measure would permanently remove one potential future revenue source and that doing so could increase pressure on regressive taxes such as property and sales taxes. Representative Wu questioned Rodriguez Ramos on whether closing options for future revenue would increase reliance on property taxes; Rodriguez Ramos affirmed that concern during her exchanges on the floor.

Representative Meyer opposed the amendments and said the amendment proposals would create loopholes or undermine the bill’s purpose of keeping Texas ‘‘business friendly.’’ After debate and the failed amendment votes, Representative Meyer moved final passage. The clerk reported a recorded vote and the resolution was adopted by the House.

Votes at a glance
- Rodriguez Ramos amendment (carve‑out for transactions over $10,000,000): record vote reported as 57 ayes, 89 nays, 1 present not voting; amendment failed.
- Rodriguez Ramos amendment on high‑frequency trading: record vote reported as 58 ayes, 88 nays; amendment failed.
- Rodriguez Ramos amendment to sunset the ban in 2034: record vote reported as 57 ayes, 87 nays; amendment failed.
- Final adoption of HJR 4: recorded in the transcript as \"There being a 11 ayes and 31 nays, the HJR is adopted.\" (transcript language retained as read on the floor).

Context
Supporters framed HJR 4 as a preemptive protection to keep Texas attractive to financial markets and to prevent the creation of a new state or local revenue source that might deter market operators. Opponents said the amendment would constitutionally remove a policy tool that future legislatures might need in a severe budget shortfall and would exacerbate the state’s reliance on regressive revenue streams.

No further fiscal detail or legislative text beyond the floor explanations was included in the transcript. The House will transmit the adopted joint resolution for placement on the ballot as described by the author.","House Joint Resolution 4, proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit taxes on securities transactions and occupation taxes on securities market operators, was debated and adopted by the Texas House after floor votes rejected several amendments.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095780,"House approves HB 135 to clarify tax exemption for working and food animals, including certain exotic animals",158,7512000,7670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1&start=7512&end=7670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1/thumbnail_7512000.jpg","/articles/6095780/Texas/House-approves-HB-135-to-clarify-tax-exemption-for-working-and-food-animals-including-certain-exotic-animals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095780-54bc7749fe7ec0e26346e0e57d2dbb78/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783759&Signature=gXUS8s1jJ1XRtSrzIyYrcZF8zDw60H4FdzmmmIsJgjiMNF5LD~XK63~uH8-rtbbh~OOnNI7EuKS5hbfFmadqoTPfQ6uKCt0KLIk7uzFpKR8S~lypUoXT1UHp6quXIwVEpdGcFAx8KBuya1ulTd6BNMTCbMzjEMx1NIt2w1N1~NZcjlYQftIVG1m5tiltiqFXzF0quMAQxcgZW-1u0JRl0ys9hZ0Kib0LQP1OIZifRPGPs8MXoLo3i7vaJw3orDFC4GVdsKcVyoqk5gzREgC~Px1dcksAKymqhGb-ENWukbTMyC0bPNjqZZPJjXgSkldxOB5AaAdiBeG4-MeuPaTUYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 135, described by its sponsor as clarifying that work animals and animals whose products are used for food are exempt from sales and use taxes — including certain exotic animals — passed the House to engrossment.

On the floor Representative Button (identified in the transcript as the sponsor) said the bill clarifies existing exemptions to benefit farmers, ranchers and consumers and moved passage. A record vote was requested and the clerk reported the tally as 26 ayes and 21 nays; the bill was passed to engrossment.

The transcript includes a short sponsor explanation and the recorded vote; no fiscal or implementing details were read on the floor.","House Bill 135 clarifies exemptions from sales and use taxes for animals used for work or food, and the House passed the bill to engrossment after a brief floor explanation.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095785,"House passes HB 195 to expand property‑tax transparency for school districts",215,4715000,4930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1&start=4715&end=4930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1/thumbnail_4715000.jpg","/articles/6095785/Texas/House-passes-HB-195-to-expand-propertytax-transparency-for-school-districts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095785-c5415f156a4bf9a4769f8bb0db12f057/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783759&Signature=NOxQ6-ryVRDroT6GkGLaObyOT8HMiBf9UKsAv385Angivj4qAR6k0PaL~qhD5Ol9Mlr1vPMvRlvq4DGOTTxT3BWReND5wUI1IDIEv75XYWGAHmAIrnLCmugOpSs6mzdhDqhMECNJdnAvJnxReIA5s8KXAcvcxwD--fH44e~GA22~zLmlMrP7nFDguk1m1TjNqR6o5lwPy3zG8GctfXjmoGUAKitoDr48Te6FNkf0g7mNK0t1wb1IH0L8ukAqR794M333ACzZNH50shWDHm1TxQtQ~2d3KQxIyFX837-I1rQkb9IDMUtipogr894DQOGmlu2oivjCJnoQaQteN-2kfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 195, presented by Representative Plessa, passed the House to engrossment after a floor explanation that described the measure as increasing transparency around ad valorem property tax information for school districts.

Representative Plessa said the bill ‘‘provides more transparency and taxation,’’ calling the concept ‘‘taxparency’’ and saying Texas homeowners deserve clarity on how property taxes contribute to school funding and how their tax dollars are used. She moved passage after explaining the bill’s intent.

Floor discussion was brief on the transcript; Representative Plessa closed in favor of passage. The House recorded a roll call and the clerk reported the tally as 31 ayes and 17 nays; HB 195 was passed to engrossment.

The transcript does not include the bill’s full statutory text or a fiscal note; the floor record focuses on the sponsor’s explanation and the roll call.","House Bill 195, described on the floor as a property‑tax transparency measure, passed the House to engrossment after floor explanation by Representative Plessa. The bill aims to require school districts to provide clearer ad valorem tax information to homeowners; the House recorded a vote of 31 ayes and 17 nays.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6095789,"House passes HB 143 to let regulators act on unsafe power lines at oil and gas well sites",97,7373000,7470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1&start=7373&end=7470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836884-f462beca64b908d832e5d8455c45b7b1/thumbnail_7373000.jpg","/articles/6095789/Texas/House-passes-HB-143-to-let-regulators-act-on-unsafe-power-lines-at-oil-and-gas-well-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095789-4ae3689995a9c59a39a76c948f1b5dd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783759&Signature=l0jukKAPUXWz2PFxbZyR99-cpF-P-n9vFM-GYRG8yFpC4153HVCKAKKATK01qcbRMtlfzuZjUgYJNNUt5c5w1vjApNBwen6v~OHKJ~16lZAZV-iQn7ifhHJI5mE1OQyUFE8rxENLKRUegl3Cj1sD-HgK~qtcNxjhYR6Y4E6RO5cMmZ1wd6RmzKuQDAMxWBcxkEjgJnXpdE-tObe02au-qdGkc-7FnswSjHwX7JVchEYbwvUM7jDdo6tXQPplsaRoYxuvpx8fKB59j~5sRYq1F~ZLSDoGwBLeDXBFWNtz0qHE8PPdyWjlh4l180o-FyNsM8UTh0FY0pOYokYuLSuGaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 143, sponsored by Representative King, passed the Texas House to engrossment after debate tying the bill to wildfire prevention. The bill would authorize the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission to address failures by operators to maintain electric power lines serving well sites and related surface facilities in accordance with the National Electric Code.

Representative King said the bill responds to multiple large wildfires in the Panhandle region, including a 700,000‑acre event, and follows agency work to develop an interagency memorandum of understanding to limit fire risk by allowing power to be shut off at sites with identified electrical hazards. He said a high share of past fires he cited began in a small area where lines between utilities and wellheads created ‘‘no man’s land.’’

Supporters on the floor emphasized wildfire mitigation and said codifying the memorandum would give agencies clearer authority to act on electrical hazards near well sites. Representative Fairly and others endorsed the bill as a practical disaster‑mitigation step. Representative King moved passage and the House recorded a roll call that the transcript shows as 30 ayes and 16 nays; HB 143 passed to engrossment.

No technical statutory text or implementing rules were read on the floor beyond the sponsor’s explanation; transcript debate focused on the policy rationale linking electrical maintenance at well sites to wildfire risk.","House Bill 143, which codifies an interagency memorandum of understanding allowing the Railroad Commission and the Public Utility Commission to address electric power lines serving certain well sites that do not meet the National Electric Code, passed the House to engrossment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House passes HB 13 to create Texas Interoperability Council and $500 million grant account for emergency communications

House advances HJR 4 to bar securities-transaction taxes after floor debate and failed amendments

House approves HB 135 to clarify tax exemption for working and food animals, including certain exotic animals

House passes HB 195 to expand property‑tax transparency for school districts

House passes HB 143 to let regulators act on unsafe power lines at oil and gas well sites